The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-29
A MOORISH EXECUTION
The Horrible and Cruel Decapitation q
Two Sturdy SmuCgiers.

! The Horrible and Cruel Decapitation of
Two Sturdy Smuggiers.
Some years ago two men were con-
victed of carrying on cont,aband trade
with the Spaniards, jus. across the
strait from Tangier. To have any
thing to do with the infidel Spaniards
was capital offense. Early one morn
ing band of soldiers conducted the
condemned men outside of the town of
Tangier. After going a short dis
tance they came to a secluded place,
where they found vicious-looking
Moor dressed as butcher. with knife
in his hand about seven or eight inches
long. This was the execu:ioner He
was stranger and had agreed to do
the work. provided the Kaid. as the
chief among the soldiers was called,
and he could agree upon the sum to be
paid. The executiOner insisted that he
should receive certain amount, what
IN our money would equal four dollars,
for each criminal. but the Kaid was
only willing to pay four dollars for
both. After good deal of bargaining
for this blood money, the Kaid agreed
to pay four dollars apiece.
The executor then seized the first
victim, whose arms were bound. and
threw him to the ground. A fearful
struggle followed. Finally the execu-
TONER got his knee upon the victims
breast. After little while he said:
'Give me another knife-mine won't
cut" The poor wretches' throat was
cat, and he was writhing in tie most
terrible manner Soon another knife
was given to the executioner, and he
finished his first victim amid shouts of
the soldiers: May God prolong tho
life of our Sultan
When it came to the execution of the
next criminal. the Kaid denied his
promise to pay four dollars apiece, and
declared that if the executioner did not
finish the second one he would not even
pay the four dollars for any part of it.
There was nothing left for the execu-
toner to do but finish his work and
take the four dollars.
The second unfortunate was a lar~e.
line-looking fellow. He had watched
the horrible death of his cOmrade with
out any sign of fear as to his own
death. He stepped boldly forward and |
asked that his hands and arms be un-
bound. This was granted. He then
walked to where his companion was
lying and exclaimed:
There is no God but God, and Ma
iomet is His prophetr'
He then lay down by the side of his
friend and said to the executioner:
For the love of God, sever my head
With better dispatch than you did that
If my brother"
The cxecutiOner placed his knee upon
lis victims breast and with cool delib-
ration severed the head entirely from
he trunk. The execution over, the eX-
cutiOner was paid his salary-four
Iollars-and started off for the coun-
~.
The soldiers picked up the two heads
Ait NstiAICN tuClIi 10 ObNU. lie I
rst Jew the soldiers met they COM
elled to sprinkle salt on the heads.
hey then placed the heads upon the
oSs Of the market gate and allowed
hem to remain there three DAYS, after
'hich they were sent to the Sultan to
Onvince him that his orders had been ,,
Xecuted. When the soldiers returned ;
} the town the news of the execution
)on spread and great crowd of bows
5arted out after the ezecutioner. de-
,rmined to revenge the deaths of their
lends. In the evening it was reported ,,
lat he had fallen senseless about five
lies from the town, covered with
ruises. The next morning news came
lat the young brother OF the second
ctim had shot and killed the execu-
oner and that the body was buried on :
le spot. No inquiry was made by the
Ithorities as to the death of the exc {
ltioner.
The party who bore the heads to the :,
Iltan was met on the way by a mes !
niger bringing a reprieve for the two y
en-. He had been detained by high :,
vers caused by the heavy rains =
ttsJurgh Dispatch. =